LEAD | January 08, 2026
LEAD Creators & Facilitators – November 2025, Year 1
Dr. Julie O’Connor – Sacred Heart Seminary and School of Theology, Vice President of Student Services and Special Projects
Dr. Julie O’Connor is an accomplished higher education leader with over 11 years of service at Sacred Heart Seminary and School of Theology, where she currently serves as Vice President of Student Services and Special Projects. She leads cross-functional initiatives that drive innovation, enhance student engagement, and align operations with strategic goals.
Dr. O’Connor has extensive experience in academic leadership, curriculum development, and project management. She has directed major grant-funded initiatives, implemented agile methodologies, and designed student-centered learning experiences. She is also the creator and instructor of the graduate-level Relational Leadership course, which emphasizes practical leadership grounded in reflection and engagement. She holds a doctorate in Educational Leadership and Management from Capella University and is certified in project management readiness.
Contact: (414) 529-6974, joconnor@shsst.edu, website: shsst.edu
Joe Tyrell – St. Joseph’s Indian School, Director of Mission Integration
Joe is a dedicated and visionary leader in Catholic education, recognized for his commitment to faith formation and cultural integration. At St. Joseph’s Indian School in Chamberlain, South Dakota, he supports young people in discovering their spiritual identity and deepening their relationship with God.
With a passion for honoring both Catholic and Lakota traditions, Joe strives to build bridges between the two, helping students recognize shared values and spiritual wisdom. His goal is to guide students in forming a personal connection with the Divine, nurturing that relationship through diverse expressions of prayer and reflection.
Joe served for seven years as a Religious Educator before stepping into his current role as Director of Mission Integration. He holds a Master’s degree in Christian Spirituality from Fordham University and a Leadership Certificate from the Benedictine Leadership Institute.
Contact: (605)234-3278, joe.tyrell@stjo.org, website: sjiskids.org
Monica Misey – U.S. Provincial Office, Director of Dehonian Associates
Monica loves the Dehonian charism and believes that our fractured world needs love and reconciliation very much! The mission of her office is to promote Dehonian spirituality beyond the SCJs. As more laity step up to leadership roles in our apostolates, she looks for ways to form laity to carry the charism into the future.
Monica has a background in international marketing and received numerous teaching awards from the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee Lubar School of Business. She is a graduate of Sacred Heart Seminary and School of Theology’s Cor Unum program and served in administration at Sacred Heart for five years before joining the Provincial Office. She is completing a Doctor of Ministry degree at the University of St. Mary of the Lake. Her dissertation is building a resource for the Priests of the Sacred Heart: “Leadership Rooted in Love: A Dehonian Approach to Today’s Challenges”.
Contact: (414) 427-4267, mmisey@dehoniansusa.org, website: dehoniansusa.org